Method and apparatus for producing imitation pigskin articles



March 27, 1945. 2,372,517

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING IMITATION. PIGSKIN ARTICLES 5. A. RICHARDSON Fiied Sept. 5, 1941 3 Sheet s-Sheet 1 Mar 7, 1 s. A. RICHARDSON METHOD AND APPARATUSFOR PRODUCING IMITATION PIGSKIN ARTICLES Filed sept. 3, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 awe/WM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 1945- s. A. RICHARDSON METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING IMITATION PI GSKIN ARTICLES Filed Sept. 3, 1941 Patentecl Mar. 27, 1945 I METHOD APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING IMITATION PIGSKIN ARTICLES Samuel A. Richardson, Burlington, Iowa, assignor .to Wells Lamont Corporation, a corporation j of Minnesota Application September 3, 1941, Serial No. {109,432

13 Claims. I

This invention relates to the production of articles of imitation pigskin, especially leather gloves. The invention is particularly concerned with the so-called pigtexin-g treatment by which the article leather, comprising caltskin or other smooth-surfaced skin is provided with small porelike openings in predetermined design to simulate the hair openings of genuine pigskin.

The general aim of the invention i to provide an improved method and an improved apparatus for producing imitation pigskin articles sharing a permanent well defined pore-like pattern in the article :skin, and without objectionably stretching or otherwise distorting the material in the course of the pigtexing treatment.

,It is a further important object to provide a method and apparatus of such character that the :pigtexing treatment will be so carried out in the course of manufacture of the leather article that the imitation pigskin design after production will not subsequently be mutilated or distorted in other operating stages :in the production of the finished imitation pigskin article.

Various practices have heretofore been tried in the production of imitation pigskin gloves. According to one practice large sheets of smooth- .surfaced skin are fed betweena. pair'of power-- driven rolls, on of which is provided with pin- ,like elements adapted to impress pore-like openingsin the leather. Thereafter the imitation pig .skin so produced is cut up into various glove parts. Thl-s practice is subject to two objections. First, the use of the coacting rolls results in an undesired and unnecessary stretching of the leather incident to the pigtexing operation and the design produced is not as distinct and perfect as desired. The further objection is that .the leather undergoes further stretching in the subsequent stage of stamping out the glove parts which further tends to obscure and distort thepigskin design.

According to a further practice, use is made of -a fiatupper platen containing suitable pins for producing a pigskin design, and a coacting stationary, smooth, lower platen, the upper pin platen :being reciprocable to and from operative position relative to the other. The leather to be treated is fed stepby step between the platens by feed means such asv a traveling belt, .and the pig- .skin design imparted progressively to successive areas ohthe leather sheet or sheets.

The use of coacting flat platens for producing the pigskin design at least partially eliminates the stretching experienced when employingcoacting rolls ac cording to thepractice first mentioned. On the other hand, the use of coacting flat platens ne-.

cessitates the application of a relatively high .operating pressure it the platens have any measurable size, and for this reason it has been found practically expedient tolimit the coacting platens to relatively small dimensions, only several inches wide and of about nine inches in their greatest dimension, in order to limit .the size of the machine and the operating pressure required, with the result that only small areas of leather, less than the length of a glove body blank, can be treated in each operating stage. Under such conditions the leather 'which' is progressively fed between the platens emerges either with overlaps of, or gaps between, the :patterns produced in successive stages.

With a view of overcoming certain of the difficulties with the last-mentioned practice, it has been proposed in" Straus Reissue Patent No. 19,402, dated December 18; 1934, to first cut the leather into small blanks for the glove parts and secure them by adhesive to a length of paper for progressive feeding through the relatively reciprocating small platens;

While this improved practice avoids stretching of the leather subsequent to. application of the pigskin pattern by reason of the cutting of the glove parts preliminary to the formation of the design, it has not proved very practical in commercial production of gloves because of the diniculties in constructing a machine which will produce proper cooperation of the vcoacting flat platens and perfectly apply repetitions of the pigchine. According to the invention large smoothsurfaced skins are first reduced to relatively small "pieces, preferably being stamped into individual blanks for various glove parts so that any stretching incident to such operation will precede the pigtexing treatment. The leather pieces, preferably a number of them at one time, are then laid-flat on a platen having upstanding sharp-end pins suitably formed and arranged in the platen to produce pore-like openings of tapering crosssection substantially through the thickness of the leather to simulate genuine pigskin. The pointed ends of the pins tend to engage the face of the leather throughout its area, and because of their close arrangement resist stretching of the leather. A blanket of puncturable material such as kraft stencil paperboard is then superposed on the leather, and a smooth-surfaced pressure roller is moved forward and back on top of the stencil-board to force the platen pins into the leather. When this operation is completed the leather will have a clear-cut, well defined uniform pigskin design pattern, and the leather will be ready for the next manufacturing stage which ordinarily will be the assembling of the individual blanks into a complete glove.

The machine for carrying out the pigtexing" operation just described is so designed as to prevent relative slippage between the pressure roller and the pin platen. This feature in conjunction with the contact of the sharp ends of the platen pins with the leather serves to resist stretching of the leather in 'the course of the pigtexing treatment. The blanket which is superposed on the leather serves to enable the tapering openings to be produced throughout the entire thickness of the leather for permanency of the design, and

of a preferred embodiment of the machine which constitutes an important part of the invention. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a machine for producing imitation pigskin incident to, the manufacture of leather articles;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view corresponding to Fig.1;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation looking from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the same machine;

Figs. 5 and 6 are side and top views of one of the indiivdual pigtexing pins, the same being greatly enlarged over actual size; and

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view of the platen shown in Fig. 2, indicating the arrangement of the pins to produce an imitation pigskin design.

The inventive machine includes a platen ID of such size, preferably, as to receive the cut blank parts of a single glove for pigtexing them all in a single operation. Of course, by increasing the dimensions of the platen it may be made of such capacity as to handle the pieces for a plurality of gloves at one time. Cut leather sheets may also be treated in the machine before shaping thereof into an article blank or blanks where such shapingcan be carried out subsequently by stamping or other method of cutting which will not produce objectionable stretching of the leather after formation of the imitation pigskin design therein.

The top of the platen I0, as indicated in Fig. 2, is provided with a series of upstanding perforating pins I I. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, such pins have an elongated base somewhat of the shape of a tear drop and'taper upwardly to a pointed upper end longitudinally offset from the center of the base. The tapering upwardly extending edges are preferably made sharp so as to actually out openings in the leather rather than merely form pressed indentations therein. In height the pins will approximate the thickness of the leather to be treated, and as hereafter pointed out provisionis made whereby the operating depth of the pins maye be varied for leather of various thicknesses.

As best shown in Fig. 7, pins I I are arranged on platen I0 in an organized design as a series of clusters to approximate the arrangement of the hair openings in genuine pigskin.

A table I2 having side rails I3 and I4 supports platen l0 and the other operative parts of the machine. Platen I 0 is supported between side rails I3 and I4 by means of a series of cross frame members I5. Threaded through the latter members are vertically adjustable bolts l6 connecting at their upper ends with securing fastenings on the underside of the platen. Through adjustment of the various bolts the platen may be raised or lowered relative to side rails I3 and I4.

A truck having opposite frame portions I1 is provided for reciprocatory movement longitudinally of the table. Upper pairs of rollers I8 having peripheral ribs fitting in grooves in the top of rails I3 and I4 support the truck for longitudinal movement and prevent lateral shifting and wobbling thereof. Further pairs of rollers I9 are mounted on the truck frame member I1 to engage the undersides of rails I3 and I4 so that the truck is held for movement in a fixed horizontal path.

Rotatably mounted in the truck is a pressure roll 20 of approximately the same width as the platen I0 adapted to cause penetration of the leather by platen pins II. Secured in the table between side rails I3 and I4 and platen I0 are toothed rack bars 2I engaged by gear wheels 22 rigidwith the opposite ends of roller 20 on its supporting shaft 23. For purposes of safety hood members 24 are secured to the truck sides I! to overlie gears 22 and the upper truck supporting rollers I8.

Through coaction of gears 22 with racks 2| the truck may be moved forward and backward lengthwise of the table with simultaneous rotation of pressure roll 20. As shown in Fig. 4 the pressure roll will have a starting position S slightly beyond the left end of platen I0 so as to leave the entire surface area of the platen exposed to receive the leather to be treated, and will reciprocate between such position and a forward end position F at the right end of the platen. The speed of rotation of pressure roll 20 will correspond exactly to its component of lengthwise movement so that there will be no relative slippage between the surface of the roll and the platen during the course of operation, with the result that stretching of the leather is greatly minimized.

In the present embodiment of the machine hand power is employed for operation. To this end a handle 25 is secured to pressure roll 20. By properly selecting the diameter for the pressure roll, movement of the handle through a relatively short arc'will serve to propel the pressure roll and its truck from one 'end position to another and back to its starting position through reverse movement of the handle. Where using hand power in this manner it is preferable that'the roll bc of a diameter suchthat approximately one-half of its perimeter, zmore -or'less, measures and coactswi'th-the full length of the supporting platen '40.

best shownin Figs. 1 and 2, opposite spring steps 28 and '29 engageable with coacting wings 30 on the truckside I! serve to cushion the truck as it reaches its opposite end positions. As shown, such springs may be mounted on supporting -rods"26 secured 'tothetable outwardly of side rails l3-and I4.

Pressure roll 20 preferably is formed with a smooth bronze operating surface to oppose the perforating pins H as the roll moves over platen 10. Through adjustment of the vertical height of platen "Ill by imeansof" bolts IS, 'the surface ofthe roll mayibe maintained with a slight clearance from the pointed tops of the pins since the roll iis supported independentl of-the platen by side'rails'l'3 and M.

It is desirable to use a backing blanket between the leather and pressure roll 20. Suchblanket is preferably inelastic, and it has been found in practice that flexible kraft stencil-board is very satisfactory for the purpose. "While such'blanket may merely belaid by hand over the leather after applying the leather to the platen, it is more convenient and advantageous to arrange the blanket to be automatically laid down and taken up by the machine in the course of its operation.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the blanket 3| is detachably secured at its left end by a clamp member 32 yieldingly connected by springs 33 to the left end of table ,.l2.' Such blanket is of a length toextend Slightly beyond the right end of platen Ill, and the second end of blanket 3! is detachabl secured .byclamp member 34 to the periphery of pressureroll20 at a circumferential point thereof beyond the contact of the roll with the platen in the forward end position F. With such arrangement blanket .3 I is laid by the pressure roll .during its forward movement from positions S to and is wound up on the roll during the return movement of the roll. One function served by the blanket is to prevent the leather from being lifted from the platen and taken up with :the surface of the roll It is obvious in this connection that if the leather is lifted from the pins :of the platen after the pins penetrate the :leather to form a design in movement from left :to :right, the openings formed may be thrown out of registry with the pins by shifting of the :leather so that upon the return movement of the :roll from right 'to .left the pins will engage 3,

different points of the leather and produce a second set of openings giving a defective design.

It will be apparent from Figs. 1, 2 and 4 that the table 1.2 is longer than necessary at its left end for proper operation of pressure roll 20 in relation toplaten ID. If desired platens of greater length may be employed with accompanying change in position of the left truck end stops 29, but in such event other operating means than handle 25 should be employed. It is convenient to have blanket 3| extend to the left substantially [beyond the starting position S of pressure roll 20 so as to facilitate replacement. In such event a supporting plate 35 may, as shown, be mounted in the frame to overlie blanket 3| beyond the left end of platen Hi. The yielding support of the left end of the blanket provided by springs 3| tends to keep the blanket tight during operation and also to prevent tearing thereof.

The pigtexing treatment of article leather will-now be describedconjunctionfiwith themachine.-

The smooth-surfacedleather for the articles will preliminarily *have all of the ordinary finishing operation-s performed thereon so that no treatment need be effected after pigtextin which by stretching or otherwise might impair the imitation pigskin design. Sheet leather'will be cut in suitable form to fit the machine. For the manufacture -of gloves the leather will :pre'ferably have the blanks for-the various gloveparts stamped therefrom inasmuch as this operation ordinarily produces a stretching of the leather.

The leather is now ready for the pigtexting treatment and will be laid flat upon thepointed ends of pins H of platen l0. In Fig. -2 thecut pieces for one complete glove are shown inoperativeposition on the platen. Such piecesconstitute the main body blank A, thumb piece 13-, and fourchettesC, D-and E. Thetops of the pins engage the leather at a great multiplicity of points, and because. of their sharpness serve to resist stretching and shifting of the leatherrelative to platen f0 incident 'to the "pigtexting treatment.

Blanket '31 is then "laid over the leather and pressure is applied to force the leather down on the pins, "these operations being performed simultaneously upon movement of pressure roll 21! to 'the right from position S to position F. To'be'tter fix the imitation pigskin design and assure its permanency, pressure roll 20 is moved back to the left to position S with the leather still in position on platen f0. Blanket 31 has served to prevent the leather from being lifted from the pins during the preliminary passage of pressure roll 20 thereover during movement to the right so that the pins engage with the same parts of the leather during the return movement of the roll. There is therefore no danger that the. pattern. will be mutilated due to the double rollingoperation. v

The ,pigtexing treatment is now complete andthe leather is removed from platen l0 and formedinto a complete article. While the .process has been illustrated in connection with the manufacture of gloves, it is obvious that it .is applicable to the manufacture of other "leather articles where .an imitation pigskin design .is appropriate.

I claim: v

1. The method of making an imitation pigskin glove :which includes preliminarily cutting sheet leather into :glove parts, applying the cut glove .parts to the ,points-of a-flatseries of upstanding sharp-pointed impression pins arranged to simulate apigskin design, rollin the glove parts while -.su-pported-by the pin :pointsto depress theleather .upon the pins, removing the .glove parts from the pins, and assembling .the parts into a glove.

2. The method of making an imitation pigskin article which includes applying to the points of a flat area ofupstanding sharp-pointed impression pins, arrangedtosimulate a pigskin design, leather cut to smaller size than the area defined by the pins, rolling the leather while supported by the pin points to cause the leather to be pierced by the pins, removing the leather from the pins and forming the leather into the finished article.

3. The method of making an imitation pigskin article which includes cutting sheet leather to article form before applying the pigskin design to prevent any stretch imparted to the leather during cutting'from marring the design subsequent to its formation, applying the cut leather to the points of a fiat area of upstanding sharppointed impression pins arranged to simulate a pigskin design, reciprocating a pressure roll across the leather while so supported to cause the leather to be pierced by the pins, removing the leather from the pins and forming the leather into the article.

4. The method of making an imitation pigskin article which includes applying to the points of a flat area of upstanding sharp-pointed impression pins arranged to simulate a pigskin design article leather cut to smaller size than the area defined by the pins, reciprocating a pressure roll across the leather while retaining the leather by a blanket against being withdrawn from the pins by the roll, removing the leather from the'pins, and forming the leather into the article.

5. The method of forming an imitation pigskin design in leather which includes preliminarily applying a piece of leather to the points of a mass of rigid sharp-pointed pins arranged to simulate a pigskin design and securing initial engagement of the leather by the points of the pins throughleather is laid, a reciprocating pressure roll movable on the frame in a fixed path above the plate for depressing the leather upon the pins, and

means mounting the plate in the frame with the pointed ends in spaced relation to the operative plane of movement of the surface of the pressure roll.

7. In apparatus for producing an imitation pigskin design in article leather, a frame, a station- .ary horizontal plate in the frame having upstanding sharp-pointed impression pins upon which the leather is laid, a pressure roll for depressing the leather upon the pins, a truck supporting the roll for movement above the plate in pressure contact with the leather, supporting means for the truck in the frame preventing pressure contact of the roll with the points of the impression pins, and means for reciprocating the truck.

8. In apparatus for producing an imitation pigskin design in article leather, a frame having opposing side rails, a. horizontal plate mounted inthe frame between said rails and having up standing sharp-pointed impression pins .upon which the leather is laid, a pressure roll for depressing the leather upon the pins, a truck rotatably supporting the pressure roll, and rollers engaging the upper and bottom portions of the frame side rails mounting the truck for reciprocation over the plate.

9. In apparatus for producing an imitation pigskin design in article leather, a frame, a stationary horizontal plate in the frame having upstanding sharp-pointed impression pins upon which the leather is laid, a rotatable pressure roll mounted on the frame for reciprocation above the plate for depressing the leather upon the pins, means for rotating the roll, and coacting gear and rack means on the roll and frame responsive to rotation of the roll to cause movement of the roll across the platen and prevent relative slippage between the roller and platen.

10. In apparatus for producing an imitation pigskin design in article leather, a frame, a stationary horizontal plate in the frame having upstanding sharp-pointed impression pins upon which the leather is laid, a rotatable pressure roll mounted on the frame for movement above the plate for depressing the leather upon the pins, means for rotating the roll, and means responsive to rotation of the roll for moving the roll along the frame comprising rack means on the frame and coacting gear means secured to the roll. I

11. In apparatus for producing an imitation pigskin design in article leather, a frame, a horizontal impression plate in the frame upon which the leather is laid, a pressure roll above the plate for depressing the leather upon the plate, means mounting said plate and roll in the frame for relative reciprocatory movement, and a flexible blanket unwinding from and winding upon the pressure roll under rotation of the roll in opposite directions automatically laid upon the leather beneath the roll, and removed from the leather, in response to said reciprocatory movement.

12. In apparatus for producing an imitation pigskin design in article leather, a frame, a stationary horizontal impression plate in the frame upon which the leather is laid, a reciprocating pressure roll movable on the frame in a fixed path .above the plate for depressing the leather upon the plate, and a flexible blanket secured atone end to the pressure roll and secured at its other end to the frame to be laid upon the leather in the course of movement of the roll.

13.-In apparatus for producing an imitation pigskin design in article leather, a frame, a stationary horizontal impression plate in the frame upon which the leather is laid, a pressure roll for depressing the leather upon the plate, a reciprocating truck movable forward and backward on the frame mounting the roll for rolling movement above the plate, and a flexible blanket secured at one end to. the frame and laid upon and removed from the leather in the forward and backward movement of the roll truck.

SAMUEL A. RICHARDSON. 

